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Receiver Smith Registers a Strong Second

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With a stagnant running game and a suddenly vulnerable defense, Steve Smith picked a good day to step to the forefront.

If you don’t know Steve Smith’s story, you can see it right there on his USC jersey: No. 2.

“He’s definitely been the ‘second guy’ in this program now for several years,” quarterback John David Booty said.

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Second billing isn’t always bad, doesn’t always signal inferiority. Just ask Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, or Eric B. and Rakim. But throughout his career at USC, Steve Smith had been in the shadows.

He started off as the No. 2 receiver, behind Keary Colbert, who was behind Mike Williams. These last couple of years he’s been the second option behind Dwayne Jarrett.

Williams and Colbert are long gone and Jarrett’s been out of service since he injured his shoulder at Arizona last week.

So when night fell in Martin Stadium on Saturday night and the Washington State Cougars wouldn’t go away and the down markers flipped to three and even four, Booty turned to Smith.

“I told him, ‘Hey, I’m coming to you,’ ” Booty said.

Booty came to Smith, and Smith came through. The senior wide receiver had a career night, with 11 receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns. He had three third-down and two fourth-down receptions that kept drives alive.

“Stevie Smith just rose to the occasion,” USC Coach Pete Carroll said.

Stevie Smith? That’s a little different. But Smith deserved a little something to set him apart. How are you supposed to be noticed with a name like Steve Smith? Not Stephen A. Smith, just Steve Smith.

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(Speaking of ordinary names, I love how the first names of Washington State’s defensive linemen are Mkristo, A’i, Ropati and ... Lance. Don’t you think Lance Broadus looks at the roster and wishes his parents were more creative?)

But Smith is stuck with those ordinary labels.

“He’s a possession receiver,” Washington State safety Eric Frampton said.

He wasn’t being dismissive. Frampton has respect for Smith. Smith definitely earned it on one third-and-four play, when he caught a pass over the middle and was immediately drilled by Frampton but held on for a 16-yard gain.

“I wanted to rattle his cage, to deter him from coming over the middle,” Frampton said. “But he kept coming.”

You can’t get rid of the guy that easily. That’s Smith’s greatest quality. He’s always there.

“Steve is just so consistent,” center Ryan Kalil said. “He really is a go-to guy. He does a great job of making his routes and he does a great job of blocking. He’s not really ‘Gimme-the-ball,’ but he loves the ball when it comes to him.”

Smith describes himself this way: “Just a guy who can make the plays, whether inside or outside. Whatever we need, whatever the team needs, I’m there to do it.”

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When Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart and LenDale White and all of those other receivers were around, the Trojans didn’t need Smith to do much.

He’s had his moments, but it was telling that he had to remind reporters about his big game in the 2005 Orange Bowl: seven catches for 113 yards and three touchdowns.

To be honest, that game against Oklahoma was such a lopsided affair my main memory is of Leinart tossing oranges from the stage afterward.

I’ll remember Smith’s performance against Washington State on Saturday, especially if the Trojans run the table from here.

Carroll is trying to sell these early games as a learning experience for his team in transition, almost as if victories are a bonus. But the national championship and maybe even Pacific 10 Conference thoughts could have ended right here if Smith hadn’t come through.

USC’s running game produced only 41 yards in the first half. The defense kept getting burned deep and allowing runs up the middle to turn into 14- and 19-yard plays. It’s not often you see the Trojans outgained -- the Texas Longhorns didn’t even do it in the Rose Bowl -- but Washington State had 418 yards to USC’s 404.

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And when everything seemed to be going against the Trojans, with a tenuous two-point lead and a drive starting from their one-yard line, Smith came through.

First, he drew a pass interference penalty on second and 10. (A questionable ruling, much like the holding call against him that was dropped in the fourth quarter. But when you play like a superstar, you get superstar calls.)

Then he picked up 12 yards on fourth and 10 from the Washington State 36, and got open for a three-yard reception when Booty was forced from the pocket on the next play. He finished off the 99-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown catch.

The Trojans have no idea when Jarrett will return.

“It could be a couple days, it could be a couple weeks,” Carroll said.

As long as they have Smith, it doesn’t seem as if anybody’s missing.

“He showed everybody what he was about tonight,” Booty said.

A guy who’s second to none.

Extra Points

* It’s no surprise that this Dodgers regular season ended in dramatic fashion, with a great game Friday, another close one Saturday and more at stake today.

* The only negative thing is the possibility that one of the heroes, Takashi Saito, might return to Japan next year. Perhaps this weekend’s excitement will persuade him to stay.

* I’m surprised there’s been so much media bashing on the Terrell Owens coverage -- from the media. When a police report says a star athlete tried to commit suicide, that’s news. When a star athlete holds a news conference to say that, contrary to the police report, he did not try to commit suicide, that’s news.

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J.A. Adande can be reached at j.a.adande@latimes.com. To read more by Adande go to latimes.com/adandeblog.

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